What preceded this pronouncement? "As I'm crossing the street, an older gentleman runs at me with a knife in his hand saying, 'Do you want to die? I'm going to kill you,'" witness Santiago Martinez told 7News. "I'm backing up going, 'Whoa.'"

At that point, Martinez continued, "Another guy in a Jeep sees that and he gets out of his car and then the guy goes after him" -- and then he did likewise with a woman crossing the street.

Martinez and the man from the Jeep reportedly responded by running after the man, who then pointed his knife at them and started "saying a bunch of weird remarks and just yelling and stuff," Martinez added.

Police summoned by multiple 911 calls arrived shortly thereafter and ordered the man to put down the knife, but he didn't comply -- in a big way. Martinez says he actually ran at one of the officers with the knife thrust out.

Denver Police Chief Robert White speaking to the media after the shooting.

Denver Police Chief Robert White told the media at a subsequent news conference from the scene that officers attempted to subdue the man using non-lethal force, including a "gas gun," a "pepper gun" and a Taser. None of these weapons had an effect on him, however -- so he was shot. He was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but soon perished.

Look below to see Chief White's complete remarks, followed by reports from 9News and 7News.